| CLOSE OF PLAY |
| Sri Lanka have managed to scrape past England by just 2 runs in a real thriller of a match that showed what the World Cup is all about. England had a disastrous start to their chase when they were reduced to 11/2. But Pietersen and Bell steadied the innings and put England on course for victory. But Bell was unfortunately run-out and after that England lost wickets in a tumble and were as good as out of the game at 133/6 and needing 103 runs in 99 balls. But Nixon and Bopara kept England in the match with an 87 run partnership. Some big hitting from Bopara got the equation down to 3 runs from 1 ball. But Dilhara Fernando held his nerve and castled Bopara to get his third wicket and win the match for Sri Lanka. Man of the Match is awarded to Ravi Bopara for his level heading innings. |
| WICKET |
| 50 : D.FERNANDO to R.BOPARA , OUT - Bopara tries to smack the ball but misses and the ball hits the top of off-stump. Sri Lanka win by 2 runs. |
| HIGHLIGHT |
| Ravi Bopara hits his maiden ODI fifty off 51 balls. |
| FOUR |
| 49.2 : D.FERNANDO to R.BOPARA , Bopara plays a cheeky sweep shot. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by Umpire Rauf. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Dilhara Fernando comes in to bowl the last over of the match |
| FOUR |
| 49 : L.MALINGA to R.BOPARA , Bopara has absolutely slammed it through point. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by Umpire Bowden. |
| CHANGE OF BALL |
| The ball is changed for the last 7 balls |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Sajid Mahmood is the new man out in the middle |
| WICKET |
| 48.5 : L.MALINGA to P.NIXON , OUT - Nixon tries to loft the ball but miscues and Jayawardene takes a sitter at Mid-Off. |
| FOUR |
| 48 : M.M'THARAN to P.NIXON , You can't hit a better reverse sweep than that. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by Umpire Rauf. |
| SIX |
| 47.4 : M.M'THARAN to P.NIXON , Reverse sweep played by Nixon amazingly carries all the way for six. Great shot by the batsman. The umpire raises his arms in the air to signal a six. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Muralitharan changes ends |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Lasith Malinga replaces Muralitharan and changes ends |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Dilhara Fernando is back in the attack |
| FOUR |
| 45.5 : D.FERNANDO to P.NIXON , Delicate glance by Nixon through the fine leg region. The ball races to the boundary. Umpire Rauf signals four runs. |
| HIGHLIGHT |
| Bopara and Nixon raise a fifty partnership that keeps England in the match. |
| FOUR |
| 45 : M.M'THARAN to R.BOPARA , Bopara plays the pull-shot to perfection. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by Umpire Bowden. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Muralitharan comes back into the attack |
| FOUR |
| 43.1 : L.MALINGA to R.BOPARA , Bopara neatly flicks the ball off his pads. The fielder's efforts go in vain as the ball races to the boundary. Umpire Rauf signals four runs. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Dilshan comes back for another spell |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Muttiah Muralitharan returns for another spell |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Lasith Malinga comes back in an attempt to make a breakthrough |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Sanath Jayasuriya comes into the attack |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Paul Nixon comes to the crease |
| WICKET |
| 33.3 : D.FERNANDO to P.C'GWOOD, OUT - Quick and straight delivery from Fernando and Collingwood is caught in his crease. The ball raps him on the pads and Umpire Rauf declares him out. |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Ravi Bopara is the new man at the crease |
| WICKET |
| 33.1 : D.FERNANDO to A.FLINTOFF , OUT - Flintoff lofts a slower delivery but miscues and Malinga takes a sitter at Mid On. |
| FOUR |
| 33 : M.M'THARAN to P.C'GWOOD, Sweetly driven through the off side by Collingwood. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Dilhara Fernando comes in to bowl |
| DRINKS |
| Drinks is taken with the match evenly balanced. England have just lost Pietersen for 58 and are 126/4 in 31 overs. |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Andrew Flintoff is the new man in |
| WICKET |
| 30.5 : M.M'THARAN to K.PIETERSEN , OUT - Kevin Pietersen drives straight back to the bowler who takes a good low and sharp catch. |
| FOUR |
| 30.3 : M.M'THARAN to K.PIETERSEN , Pietersen plays a sweep shot. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| FOUR |
| 30 : L.MALINGA to K.PIETERSEN , Pietersen crisply drives the ball straight down the ground. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| FOUR |
| 29.3 : L.MALINGA to P.C'GWOOD, Collingwood flicks it away with a wristy shot which beats the fielder at Fine-Leg. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| HIGHLIGHT |
| Pietersen reaches his 14th ODI fifty in 74 balls |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Lasith Malinga reintroduced into the attack |
| POWER PLAY |
| Powerplay 3 is taken by Sri Laka for Overs 30-34 |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Paul Collingwood is the new man at the crease |
| WICKET |
| 25.2 : S.JAYASURIYA to K.PIETERSEN , OUT - Pietersen drives the ball straight back to the bowler who flicks the ball onto the stumps. Ian Bell is caught out of his crease but only just. Third Umpire gives him out. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Mutiah Muralitharan comes in to bowl |
| GENERAL |
| Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been limping for some time, walks off the field. |
| HIGHLIGHT |
| Kumara Sangakkara misses a good opportunity to run-out Ian Bell on 39. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan replaces Chaminda Vaas in the attack. |
| DRINKS |
| Drinks cart is called onto the field at the end of the 16th over. After losing two early wickets, Bell and Pietersen have steadied the ship and England are at 72/2. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Sanath Jayasuriya, the most capped ODI player, comes in to bowl his off-spinners |
| FOUR |
| 14.4 : C.VAAS to I.BELL , Exquisitely driven through the off side by Bell. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| FOUR |
| 14.2 : C.VAAS to I.BELL , The ball has been square driven by Bell and pierces the infield. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals four runs. |
| HIGHLIGHT |
| Fifty run partnership between Bell and Pietersen for the third wicket |
| FOUR |
| 12.1 : C.VAAS to K.PIETERSEN , Flicked over mid wicket by Pietersen. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| FOUR |
| 11.1 : D.FERNANDO to I.BELL , Thick inside edge from Bell, ball goes down to Fine Leg. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| SIX |
| 11 : C.VAAS to K.PIETERSEN , Pietersen has lofted the ball beautifully straight over the bowlers head. That was six from the time it left the bat of Pietersen. Up go the arms of the umpire. |
| FOUR |
| 10.3 : C.VAAS to I.BELL , The ball has been square driven by Bell with excellent timing. The ball has crossed the ropes. The Umpire signals four runs. |
| POWER PLAY |
| Umpire Bowden signals the second Powerplay for Overs 11-15 |
| FOUR |
| 9.2 : D.FERNANDO to K.PIETERSEN , Crisply driven through the covers by Pietersen. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary. |
| CHANGE OF BOWLER |
| Dilhara Fernando is introduced into the attack |
| FOUR |
| 8 : L.MALINGA to K.PIETERSEN , Pietersen plays the pull-shot over Mid-Wicket. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire. |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Kevin Pietersen is the new man in |
| WICKET |
| 5.2 : L.MALINGA to E.JOYCE , OUT - Quick inswinger from Malinga roots Joyce to his crease and traps him in front. Umpire Rauf gives him out LBW. |
| FOUR |
| 4.1 : C.VAAS to E.JOYCE , Joyce has edged it past Jayawardene at slip. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary. Its the first boundary of the innings. |
| NEXT BATSMAN IN |
| Ian Bell is the new man at the crease |
| WICKET |
| 2.2 : C.VAAS to M.VAUGHAN , OUT - Wide ball down the leg-side is chased by Vaughan and he gets a thin edge to Sangakkara. Umpire Bowden raises the finger after a loud appeal from the Sri Lankans. |
| GENERAL |
| Lasith Malinga to share the new ball with Vaas |
| GENERAL |
| Chaminda Vaas to start proceedings from the Pavillion end. |
| GENERAL |
| The English openers are Ed Joyce and Michael Vaughan. |
| GENERAL |
| England require 236 runs to win |